Suddenly HATES the car seat....

So, my LO has never been a car seat lover, but she's always been fine. Sometimes she was a little fussy in the car, but usually it was just when she was tired or hungry.

Well, the past couple of weeks it's been a different story. She's started screaming like she's being tortured as soon as she figures out that she's going in the seat (usually when I open the car door or walk to the car). She thrashes around, making it really difficult to buckle her in, and screams and tries to get out the ENTIRE car ride! She never even settles down a little bit.

My sister was here last week, so I had her sit in the back with DD to try to entertain her, but that didn't even work! She still screamed the entire time. It doesn't matter if I'm driving 5 mins to the post office or an hour to see my parents, she'll scream the whole time. She gets so upset that she starts to dry heave and hyperventilate.

I'm at a loss for what to do. I dread leaving the house! This only started happened about two weeks ago. I've never even considered putting the seat forward facing until now. I still don't want to, but I don't know what to do. Any advice would be appreciated!

So, my LO has never been a car seat lover, but she's always been fine. Sometimes she was a little fussy in the car, but usually it was just when she was tired or hungry.

Well, the past couple of weeks it's been a different story. She's started screaming like she's being tortured as soon as she figures out that she's going in the seat (usually when I open the car door or walk to the car). She thrashes around, making it really difficult to buckle her in, and screams and tries to get out the ENTIRE car ride! She never even settles down a little bit.

My sister was here last week, so I had her sit in the back with DD to try to entertain her, but that didn't even work! She still screamed the entire time. It doesn't matter if I'm driving 5 mins to the post office or an hour to see my parents, she'll scream the whole time. She gets so upset that she starts to dry heave and hyperventilate.

I'm at a loss for what to do. I dread leaving the house! This only started happened about two weeks ago. I've never even considered putting the seat forward facing until now. I still don't want to, but I don't know what to do. Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks for your response. Yeah, we've tried that. I'll give her lots of toys, her sippy, books, etc. She's so upset that she's just throws everything right away. She gets way too upset to beÂ placatedÂ with things. This is why it's so hard! It feels like there's nothing that can do!Â

Thanks for your response. Yeah, we've tried that. I'll give her lots of toys, her sippy, books, etc. She's so upset that she's just throws everything right away. She gets way too upset to beÂ placatedÂ with things. This is why it's so hard! It feels like there's nothing that can do!Â

Make sure nothing is hurting her in her seat like PP said. She's still RFing, correct? Honestly, she sounds like she just HATES to be 'tied down'. Have you rolled down the window for her? Some kids hate being in there b/c they can't 'see' mom/dad and it ticks them off. I can reassure you that this is a phase and it will pass...you will just have to find her "pacifying item" <3

Make sure nothing is hurting her in her seat like PP said. She's still RFing, correct? Honestly, she sounds like she just HATES to be 'tied down'. Have you rolled down the window for her? Some kids hate being in there b/c they can't 'see' mom/dad and it ticks them off. I can reassure you that this is a phase and it will pass...you will just have to find her "pacifying item" <3

I would feel around in her seat and make sure nothing has fallen in a crack and is poking her. If you don't have a convertible seat already, then it may be time to get one. Maybe a strap is pinching her or needs to be raised up to the next level. I hope something helps soon!

I would feel around in her seat and make sure nothing has fallen in a crack and is poking her. If you don't have a convertible seat already, then it may be time to get one. Maybe a strap is pinching her or needs to be raised up to the next level. I hope something helps soon!

We don't have an iPad, but I gave her my iPhone with one of her favorite videos playing on it (it was a moment of desperation) and she threw it! Do you mount the iPad somehow on the back of the seat?

She is in aÂ convertibleÂ car seat (the Britax Marathon 70). She's been in it for about 3 months now, but this only started about two weeks ago. It seems like a comfortable seat, and I checked it thoroughly to make sure that there's nothing poking her or something. The crotch area is a little tight, but there's nothing I can do about that. I was going to try to adjust it to give her a little more room in that area, but I checked the handbook. When the child is rear facing, it said to keep the crotch strap where it is. You can only move it out for forward facing.Â

Perhaps I will see if she likes other seats better. Having spent a good deal of money on this seat not that long ago, I don't want to buy another one, but maybe I'll see. I have a feeling though, that she won't like any car seat!Â

Thanks so much for the responses!

We don't have an iPad, but I gave her my iPhone with one of her favorite videos playing on it (it was a moment of desperation) and she threw it! Do you mount the iPad somehow on the back of the seat?

She is in aÂ convertibleÂ car seat (the Britax Marathon 70). She's been in it for about 3 months now, but this only started about two weeks ago. It seems like a comfortable seat, and I checked it thoroughly to make sure that there's nothing poking her or something. The crotch area is a little tight, but there's nothing I can do about that. I was going to try to adjust it to give her a little more room in that area, but I checked the handbook. When the child is rear facing, it said to keep the crotch strap where it is. You can only move it out for forward facing.Â

Perhaps I will see if she likes other seats better. Having spent a good deal of money on this seat not that long ago, I don't want to buy another one, but maybe I'll see. I have a feeling though, that she won't like any car seat!Â

Yes, she is still rear facing. And the straps are a little below her shoulders. I have tried rolling down the window (and rolling it up and down to distract her). She doesn't care at all!Â

I talked to her Dr. today at her one year appointment. He said to first check and make sure that something isn't wrong with the seat that could impact her comfort level (which we did). Beyond that, he said that this isn't uncommon for this age, as they try to assert what they want. He said to be calm and matter of fact about it. He said to just say in a calm voice something like "I know you don't like being in your car seat, but you have to be to be safe. You're okay, and I love you." And then just drive and ignore the crying. He said that most kids will outgrow with phase quickly, but some very stubborn ones could carry on this way for years! DD seems like the very stubborn type, so I'm a little worried!!! :)Â

Yes, she is still rear facing. And the straps are a little below her shoulders. I have tried rolling down the window (and rolling it up and down to distract her). She doesn't care at all!Â

I talked to her Dr. today at her one year appointment. He said to first check and make sure that something isn't wrong with the seat that could impact her comfort level (which we did). Beyond that, he said that this isn't uncommon for this age, as they try to assert what they want. He said to be calm and matter of fact about it. He said to just say in a calm voice something like "I know you don't like being in your car seat, but you have to be to be safe. You're okay, and I love you." And then just drive and ignore the crying. He said that most kids will outgrow with phase quickly, but some very stubborn ones could carry on this way for years! DD seems like the very stubborn type, so I'm a little worried!!! :)Â

Oh my goodness, I feel for you, mama. My LO used to be like that, pretty much from birth until about a month ago. I have no idea what made it stop, besides playing world music in the car (sounds weird, I know, but if I forget and leave the radio on, crying within 1 minute).

The only thing I can think is to ask around and find a good chiropractor that works on little ones, as maybe your babe needs an adjustment. My little guy needed a couple when he was born, but he's been good ever since.

Oh, and maybe a soft car mirror, so babe can see you? I know your LO is reacting in an extremely negative way, but maybe she'll stop to take a breath sometime and check out the mirror?

Good luck mama, I really hope something works soon for you.

Oh my goodness, I feel for you, mama. My LO used to be like that, pretty much from birth until about a month ago. I have no idea what made it stop, besides playing world music in the car (sounds weird, I know, but if I forget and leave the radio on, crying within 1 minute).

The only thing I can think is to ask around and find a good chiropractor that works on little ones, as maybe your babe needs an adjustment. My little guy needed a couple when he was born, but he's been good ever since.

Oh, and maybe a soft car mirror, so babe can see you? I know your LO is reacting in an extremely negative way, but maybe she'll stop to take a breath sometime and check out the mirror?

the IPad sits at the base of the carseat by his feet. Â It sort of falls between the seat back and the carseat and mostly works. Â The only problem is sometimes he tries to work it with his feet and knocks it down.It probably is a phase, hopefully it ends soon.Steph

the IPad sits at the base of the carseat by his feet. Â It sort of falls between the seat back and the carseat and mostly works. Â The only problem is sometimes he tries to work it with his feet and knocks it down.It probably is a phase, hopefully it ends soon.Steph

Music works for my LO. When she was younger I would play music and see which songs she responded to and I made 2 CD's with those songs on it. It works like a charm for her. She'll be carrying on and as soon as her music starts she settles right down. DH didn't believe me that she responded to music until we were both in the car and she started screaming blue murder, I turned off his music (which he WAS NOT happy about!) and put hers on and she settled hearing the first couple of bars of one of her songs. So now, if she's upset, I don't get any arguments from DH we just put her music on and off we go. Thankfully the songs are things like Beyonce's "Ave Maria" or "Uprising" by Muse or anything from the Wicked Soundtrack LOL. So maybe try that? If she doesn't respond to adult music, maybe try The Wiggles or Sesame Street or something like that?

Also, it might be an idea to turn her seat around. I'm in Australia and the law is that children have to be rearward facing until 8kg. My LO suffered from GORD and being in the rearward facing condition actually cause her pain, so it was a huge relief for her when she FINALLY hit the 8kg mark and we turned her seat around. It made the world of difference. We got her a set of toy keys that make car noises and she LOVES it, but it is only for in the car - Mum & Dad have keys in the car, so does she now.

Good luck, with it, it certainly is difficult to concentrate when you've got a screaming child in the car.

Music works for my LO. When she was younger I would play music and see which songs she responded to and I made 2 CD's with those songs on it. It works like a charm for her. She'll be carrying on and as soon as her music starts she settles right down. DH didn't believe me that she responded to music until we were both in the car and she started screaming blue murder, I turned off his music (which he WAS NOT happy about!) and put hers on and she settled hearing the first couple of bars of one of her songs. So now, if she's upset, I don't get any arguments from DH we just put her music on and off we go. Thankfully the songs are things like Beyonce's "Ave Maria" or "Uprising" by Muse or anything from the Wicked Soundtrack LOL. So maybe try that? If she doesn't respond to adult music, maybe try The Wiggles or Sesame Street or something like that?

Also, it might be an idea to turn her seat around. I'm in Australia and the law is that children have to be rearward facing until 8kg. My LO suffered from GORD and being in the rearward facing condition actually cause her pain, so it was a huge relief for her when she FINALLY hit the 8kg mark and we turned her seat around. It made the world of difference. We got her a set of toy keys that make car noises and she LOVES it, but it is only for in the car - Mum & Dad have keys in the car, so does she now.

Good luck, with it, it certainly is difficult to concentrate when you've got a screaming child in the car.

Thanks so much for all the responses and ideas! It helps just to know that I'm not alone!Â

Yes, we do have a mirror strapped to the back of the seat so we can see her. So, she can kind of see us, too.Â

The car seat has to be tilted all the way back when it is rear facing, so it's been tilted back the whole time now.Â

I think the idea of music is a good one. I've turned on the radio, but i think she will respond better to songs that she likes and knows, so I'm going to try that.Â

The car is in a garage, so the seat shouldn't be too hot.Â

I didn't want to turn the car seat around yet, but we have been thinking about it. DH gets motion sickness really easily, and it's especially bad when he's facing backwards. I also have other family member who get motion sickness. Maybe she feels sick when in the car? I don't know. Maybe turning the seat to forward facing would help? I'm not sure. We might try it, but I'm worriedÂ becauseÂ it's not as safe. I think I'll try things like the music first and see what happens.Â

Thank you for all the help!

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Thanks so much for all the responses and ideas! It helps just to know that I'm not alone!Â

Yes, we do have a mirror strapped to the back of the seat so we can see her. So, she can kind of see us, too.Â

The car seat has to be tilted all the way back when it is rear facing, so it's been tilted back the whole time now.Â

I think the idea of music is a good one. I've turned on the radio, but i think she will respond better to songs that she likes and knows, so I'm going to try that.Â

The car is in a garage, so the seat shouldn't be too hot.Â

I didn't want to turn the car seat around yet, but we have been thinking about it. DH gets motion sickness really easily, and it's especially bad when he's facing backwards. I also have other family member who get motion sickness. Maybe she feels sick when in the car? I don't know. Maybe turning the seat to forward facing would help? I'm not sure. We might try it, but I'm worriedÂ becauseÂ it's not as safe. I think I'll try things like the music first and see what happens.Â

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